Kymco - Remember The Renault Dauphine mistake?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Seems like Kymco is flirting with "The Dauphine Mistake"....
Years ago Renault imported the superb little Dauphine into the USA. I think it was in Chrysler dealerships.
But the venture became a disaster because there were plenty of cars, but no spares in the parts departments.
VW sent containers full of spares ahead of their little cars.

In pretty short order this fine little Renault was withdrawn from our shores.
Kymco isn’t alone in offering new models with spotty in-country spares and accessories availability. I had a nice Honda Forza with a rear tire not available in this country. ! So, of course I had a flat.
I suspect this is caused mainly by how small the American market is in the eyes of the big scooter producers.
We owners know how most Americans view scooters.
Stig


 

[CROSSBOLT]

Dauphine = Porche's revenge! I, too, heard of the lack of spares for the Dauphine in the 60's. Wondered then what was the problem of solving that problem. Oh, yeah! Guys in suits! NIH = Not Invented Here....

[EvilTessmacher]

I'm close to falling victim to the Dauphine Effect myself...

[PaulF]

That worries me with my Piaggio Medley as well. If something goes wrong and the local dealer needs to order a part from Italy then I will be without transport for a few weeks.  I thought I would solve this by buying a small second hand 2012 PGO Ligero (Metro for USA and Canada) as a backup.  It has only done a couple of thousand kilometers but when I took it too my local shop for a check over they said it needed new rings (2 stroke) and I had to order then from Thailand as they importer here stopped his business.  So now I waiting at least 2 and a half weeks for the rings and gaskets to get here, plus freight was expensive.  Unfortunately that is the problem with scooters, the market in Australia is not big enough to keep all the spares here.

[Stig / Major Tom]

That worries me with my Piaggio Medley as well. If something goes wrong and the local dealer needs to order a part from Italy then I will be without transport for a few weeks.  I thought I would solve this by buying a small second hand 2012 PGO Ligero (Metro for USA and Canada) as a backup.  It has only done a couple of thousand kilometers but when I took it too my local shop for a check over they said it needed new rings (2 stroke) and I had to order then from Thailand as they importer here stopped his business.  So now I waiting at least 2 and a half weeks for the rings and gaskets to get here, plus freight was expensive.  Unfortunately that is the problem with scooters, the market in Australia is not big enough to keep all the spares here.

Well, I'm at the other end of this stick....I have a box full of spares that I've been waiting 5 yrs to need for my LIKE200i !
I used to think these things were going to pop like a toy.

Then again, I just bought a Piaggio from a dealer who has since folded his tent! I'm dumb enough to think I won't need him. Texas has parts, I have a decent manual and tools....😊
Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

I think we all, me included, fall into this sweat over spares more than we need. I have  needed spares over the years but NEVER to the degree I felt necessary.

[Viper254]

Agreed. The half of a spare bike that I've kept in the shed has turned out to be massive overkill.

[souzamoto]

Kymco, in the past prior to the new CEO, usually ordered spares prior to a new model arriving. I'm unaware of how it is now.
Usually never  problem with spares availability. Sure there are instances, like every other MC OEM, that some parts are on B/O and may take a while to get in stock. B/O's were never a major issue.
CJS

[Stig / Major Tom]

I think we all, me included, fall into this sweat over spares more than we need. I have  needed spares over the years but NEVER to the degree I felt necessary.

I wonder....can I  use that gallon of Honda scooter oil (purchased for my late Forza300 - its oil filters fit our CB500X  !)  in my Troy-Bilt mower with the Honda engine?

Stig